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Web Browsers - Clear the Cache

Last Updated: 07/20/2015

Overview

Clearing a web browser’s cache can correct problems you may have using a web browser while on the CU-Boulder network or using an OIT web based program, like our learning management systems. OIT recommends that you perform this simple step before you start to surf the Web for the first time on the campus network.

Most web browsers store webpage data by default and this results in a cache being built. For example, when visiting a webpage, the web browser may cache the HTML, images, and any CSS or JavaScript files referenced by the page. When you browse through other pages on the site that use the same images, CSS, or JavaScript, your browser will not have to re-download the files. Instead, the browser can simply load them from the cache, which is stored on your local hard drive. For the CU based websites, data updates occur frequently and due to this, clearing the cache routinely is good practice when using CU based websites.